Lesson Learned

Last night while shopping in the Lifeway area of the exhibit hall; I was approached by a reporter from the Tennesseean, Bob Smietana. Mr. Smietana struck up a conversation with me that eventually led to my agreeing to "go on the record" about the convention. I was basically asked what I thought about the GCR and about the Mark Driscoll motions. I explained that I was excited about the Great Commission, but cautiously optimistic about its implementation since the Southern Baptist Convention does not have a top down hierarchy. However, my lead in thoughts and conclusions got cut out of the article. Instead what was printed is listed below...

"Even some supporters of the plan warned that reversing the convention's declines would not be easy.

Churches must own it

Joe White, pastor of Thompson Springs Baptist in Cleveland, Tenn., supported the Great Commission plan but said it would go nowhere if local churches don't embrace it.

"Any resolutions passed here don't necessarily apply to Baptists in Tennessee or to my church," he said. "We can do what we want.""

Allow me to add some context to these quotes. I said... the Southern Baptist Convention is a gathering of cooperating churches. There is no hierarchy in the SBC. We are not a top down convention, therefore... "Any resolutions passed here don't necessarily apply to Baptists in Tennessee or to my church." All of the entities of the Southern Baptist Convention, the State Conventions, the Local Associations, and all of the churches are autonomous, thus... "We can do what we want."

Perhaps the Lord wishes me to learn not to believe everything I read, unless I read it in the Bible. I consider this a lesson learned. No more personal interviews for me with a man and a recorder! The article in its entirety (Ha Ha), can be found here.